Flu season has been stopped in its tracks this winter

This time of year would normally be the height of flu season in Nova Scotia, but so far there have been no reported cases in the province.

Health Department spokespersonMarla MacInnisconfirmed the absence of influenza cases toCBC News and said there were 442 cases last season.

Nova Scotia's experience is reflected in national influenza figures. AJan. 15 report from Public Health Agency of Canada saidthere haven't been enough influenza cases to even declare the start of the 2020-2021 season in Canada.

MacInnis said in an email that public health protocols to minimize the spread of COVID-19 have had a similar effect on influenza in the province.

"Masking, physical distancing and good hand hygiene are all measures that can not only reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, but other viruses such as influenza," she said.

Statistics for the past six years show that by this time of year there would normally be an average of14,811 influenza detectionsreported in Canada. So far this season there have been just 51 influenza cases reported.

Twenty-seven of the 51influenza detections reported to date this season are connected to people who received an attenuated influenza vaccine and do not represent community circulation of the flu virus.

The agency's Flu Watch report for Jan. 3-9 said thepercentage of positive tests for influenza in Week 1 of 2021was 0 per cent, compared to 23.4 per centduring the past six seasons. There have been no laboratory confirmed outbreaks in Canada this season.

The low circulation of the seasonal flu has meant that the National Microbiology Laboratory has been unable to test for influenza strain characterizations or antiviral resistance.

MacInnis saidthe province ordered more doses of the flu vaccine this year than ever before, but said many providers ran low because of demand.

She said the province secured more influenza vaccine in December and has distributed these additional doses to providers.

MacInnis said if someone still wants the vaccine and it is not available at their usual provider they may need to call around.

Some experts predicted flucases would tumble in the Northern Hemispherebased on Australia's experience with plummeting flu figures after it introduced COVID-19 measures. Australia's flu season coincides with Canada's summer.

In October, Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, said it'spossible to avoid a flu season.

"We would expect and hope that as long as we all stick with the COVID protocols it'll have a significant positive impact on influenza as well," he said.

"But that doesn't diminish the importance at all of having as many Nova Scotians as possible add another layer and the best way to protect influenza and that is getting a flu vaccine."

In a normal year, the Public Health Agency of Canada said influenza causes 12,200 hospitalizations and3,500 deaths in the country.